Design and specification

Question 1

What goes into a specification?

Answer 1

• SoW.
• Prelims.
• Materials and Workmanship.

Question 2

What guidance do you follow for producing a specification?

Answer 2

• BS 8000.
• RICS Design and Specification Guidance Note.

Question 3

What are the advantages of using NBS Chorus?

Answer 3

You can select the items you want and it pulls them through into a document with the detail saving you time.

Question 4

What parts did you do of the specification?

Answer 4

SoW, prelims, Materials and Workmanship.

Question 5

Would you specify fire stopping?

Answer 5

No this is done by a specialist.

Question 6

What is the advantage of taking the design to RIBA Stage 4?

Answer 6

• More control over design.
• More certainty over costs.

[- Easier for contractor to price.
- Better understanding of project.]

Question 7

How did you ensure the durability of products?

Answer 7

• Specify good qulaity products using British Standards.
• Collateral warranties/insurance backed warranties.
• Rectification period.

Question 8

What protections were in place for the products?

Answer 8

Collateral warranties and manufacturers guarantee.

Question 9

What is a heritage statement?

Answer 9

Describes the historical significance of a building.

Question 10

Design and spec - Ferry Lane:
- Details of instruction (service, spec, contract value/claim amount etc)?
- Issues encountered?

Answer 10

• TDD (vendors).
• 20 metres from nearest protected staircase (should be max 18 metres).
• Proposed erecting protected corridor to reduce travel distance.

Question 11

Ferry Lane - How did erecting a wall reduce the protected stairwell route?

Answer 11

Reduced the travel distance as it created a protected corridor.

Question 12

Ferry Lane - How did you assess the level of fire protection required from the newly erected wall?

Answer 12

• Checked AD B.
• BS 9999.
• Recommended 30 min fire rated plasterboard and fire doors.

Question 13

Ferry Lane - Take me through the full specification of the partition wall.

Answer 13

• Plasterboard 12.5mm thick.
• Mineral wool insulation.
• Fire doors 30 minute.

Question 14

Wembley Arena - You mentioned that you noted numerous items that could be upgraded to improve building’s sustainability. Aside from LED lighting, what did you identify and recommend?

Answer 14

• Solar panels.
• Low-flow taps.
• PIRs.
  [- Energy efficient heating and cooling.]

Question 15

Wembley Arena - How were these works presented to your client in the PPM?

Answer 15

They were included within the recommendations section of the report which summarised the schedule.

Question 16

Wembley Arena - What was your client’s key driver for the PPM requirement?

Answer 16

They wanted to understand the costs associated with maintaining the property and what years to undertake maintenance.

Question 17

Wembley Arena - How might the presentation of a PPM differ somewhat to providing your client with a vendor’s TDD?

Answer 17

• PPMs outline the maintenance over a number of years (typically 10 years).
• TDDs report on the condition of the building in its current state in terms of purchasing a building (shorter term costs).

Question 18

For D&B what RIBA Stage would you take the design to?

Answer 18

RIBA Stage 3 - Spatial Coordination.

Question 19

What’s the difference between Building Regulations and British Standards?

Answer 19

• Building Regs: minimum standards (mandatory).
• British Standards: best practice (voluntary).

Question 20

How are provisional sums dealt with post-contract?

Answer 20

You remove them (they are ommitted).

Question 21

Can you name some headings within the prelims document?

Answer 21

• Description of Work.
• The site.
• The contract.

Question 22

[INCOMPLETE] Planning questions

Question 23

When is planning permission required?

Answer 23

Not required for:
- Internal works.
- Permitted development.

• New build.
• Extensions.
• Change of use.

Question 24

How long does planning permission take?

Answer 24

Typically around 8 weeks.

Question 25

What information is required when submitting a planning application?

Answer 25

- Location plan. - Drawings (existing and proposed). - Design and Access (D&A) statement [conservation areas only]. - Heritage statement [conservation areas only]. [- Application form.]

Question 26

When is CDM required?

Answer 26

- On all projects. - Duties placed on contractor for domestic but still applies.

Question 27

What's the difference between a guarantee and a warranty?

Answer 27

Guarantee: - Promise. - Recourse - repair/replace [typically]. - Can't sue for damages [no breach of contract as there isn't one]. [- Can have insurance backed guarantees which offer stronger recourse as there's a fallback route.] [- Use - products or work i.e. roof covering.] Warranty: - Contract. - Recourse - sue for damages [breach of contract]. - Use - third-party protection in contracts i.e. collateral warranty.

Question 28

What are the Approved Documents and their contents for: - Part A. - Part B. - Part C. - Part D. - Part E. - Part F. - Part G. - Part H. - Part J. - Part K. - Part L. - Part M. - Part O. - Part P. - Part S. - Part T.

Answer 28

- Part A: Structure. - Part B: Fire safety. - Part C: Site prep. - Part D: Toxic substances. - Part E: [Ear] Sound (resistance to). - Part F: [Fan] Ventilation. - Part G: [Germs] Sanitation. - Part H: Drainage. - Part J: Combustion appliances. - Part K: [Kicking K] Protection from falling. - Part L: Conservation of fuel and power. - Part M: Access to and use of buildings. - Part O: Overheating. - Part P: Electrical safety. - Part S: Electric vehicle charging. - Part T: Toilets.

Question 29

What does PAS stand for?

Answer 29

Public Available Specification.

Question 30

Design and spec - Campden Hill Towers: - Details of instruction (service, spec, contract value/claim amount etc)? - Issues encountered?

Answer 30

- Project. - £150k. - Erection of a crash deck was included as performance spec. - Crash deck spec: sufficient size to prevent people being injured from falling debris, area needed to be covered. - Designs sent back as fire escape routes weren't clear [option C].

Question 31

Campden Hill Towers - Why didn't you include the crash deck design as part of the contractor's design portion in the contract?

Answer 31

- This was first phase of works - to resolve safety issues [scaffolder direct appointment to CA (no principal contractor)]. - Second phase was to address cladding options (overclad or replace with new) [PAYE direct appointment to CA (no principal contractor].

Question 32

Campden Hill Towers - What design considerations did you have to make when writing the specification?

Answer 32

- Size of crash deck. - Fire escape routes were clear. - Licences from the council to erect crash deck.

Question 33

Campden Hill Towers - How did you request that amendments were made to the scaffolding design?

Answer 33

- Returned Contractor's Design Document marked 'C' (resubmit with amendments made). [- Have 14 days to respond otherwise automatically marked as 'A'.]

Question 34

Are there any considerations you have to make if you're undertaking substantial repairs to a roof?

Answer 34

- If more than 50% of the roof is replaced the thermal performance must be upgraded to comply with AD L. [U-value requirements provided in AD L for pitched and flat roofs].

Question 35

Can you talk me through the RIBA Stages?

Answer 35

- 0 - Strategic Definition: Define objectives. - 1 - Preparation and Brief: Develop brief and budget. - 2 - Concept Design: Initial designs. - 3 - Spatial Coordination: Planning and regulation compliance. - 4 - Technical Design: Detailed design (spec). - 5 - Manufacturing and Construction: Works on-site. - 6 - Handover: Completion, handover docs. - 7 - In Use: Maintenance (if necessary).